It’s been said before that the team that receives the best player in an NBA trade wins the deal. 

Is that always the case? Yes, it typically looks that way – at first. Sometimes, time passes, and it starts to look a little different. 

We don’t need to dig into history for an example. The Minnesota Timberwolves got the best player in their Rudy Gobert trade last summer. Can we say with absolute confidence that they won that trade? 

With that in mind, it would be difficult for the Los Angeles Lakers to trade Anthony Davis and receive the best player in the deal.

After all, most of the players who are better than Davis are untouchable. 

Could the Lakers send him to the Atlanta Hawks anyway?